Hard Rock Casino Atlantic City to Include Skill-Based Gaming

Hard Rock International is jumping on the skill-based bandwagon by announcing they will be offering skill games at their new Atlantic City venue.

Skill-based gaming seems to be the new popular choice among casino operators in the United States. From the East to West Coast, gaming venues are adding such gaming options in order to entice the millennial generation. The younger audience do not find standard slot games and table games such as blackjack appealing. In order to gain their favor, operators are relying on skill based games that are similar to video games or mobile gaming in order to attract the younger crowd. Just recently, Hard Rock International announced they will be adding skill-based gaming to their new venue in Atlantic City.

Adding a Level of Skill

Over the past few months, we have learned that Hard Rock International was the interested party in the acquisition of the Trump Taj Mahal casino of Atlantic City. Carl Ichan sold the venue to the company, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, who will now revamp the casino and change it to a Hard Rock venue. The company has plans to expand gambling within the venue, beyond the casino floor. Additional options for gaming will be added near the restaurants as well as the swimming pool of the facility.

Because the Hard Rock company is revamping the former Trump Taj Mahal, they are focusing their efforts on what type of gaming they will provide their visitors. Many gaming venues across the United States are adding skill-based gaming machines or aspects, so it makes perfect sense that the Hard Rock would do this within their new Atlantic City venue. Hard Rock hopes to be able to cater to a more diverse gaming clientele by adding services and products that are not the typical table games or slot machines that players are used to.

When speaking with gambling regulators of Atlantic City, Hard Rock has stated that they have plans to add in skill-based slot machines plus innovative slot games that will help to increase the amount of time players spend gaming.

Additional Gaming

Hard Rock also has their eye on expanding the gaming options of the new Atlantic City facility to include fantasy sports contests and other options. The state of New Jersey decided to legalize fantasy sports tournaments in 2013 and the casino is going to take full advantage of this option. On top of revamping the main casino, Hard Rock is also hoping to be given permission by the Gaming Control Board to have the ability to provide gaming in areas aside from the main casino such as by the pool and in the food and beverage areas.

The company also hopes to be able to create private gaming spaces that will be used specifically by VIP players. These areas would be located within the casino floor plus in the hotel of the venue. Hard Rock International has already committed to spending $500 million in the investment of the property and once opened, it will give Atlantic City eight gaming venues and should be a big draw for the tourism industry.

Amazingly, Hard Rock International was able to acquire the property for $50 million which is far less than the $1.2 billion that it cost to build the structure back in the early 1990s by Donald Trump. Hard Rock has tried to gain entry into Atlantic City in other ways but failed. It seems this new acquisition is the right move and it will be interesting to see how well the Hard Rock brand fairs along the Atlantic City Boardwalk.